Let us consider these things

Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.


   The writer is addressing the Hebrews and encouraging them to hold on to their faith in God. The last part of v.23 where he makes the statement that He (God) is faithful that promised denotes to me that he is saying this faith is worth holding on to no matter what we face in life. Knowing that trials and tribulations come to us all he points out that we cannot make it on our own but that we need one another.

   In v.24 the writer tells us to consider one another to provoke our brethren to love and to good works. When we provoke we are performing an act that will get a response. Typically a Country doesn’t go to war unless they are provoked. Children typically don’t engage in fisticuffs unless they feel belittled or threatened. We can provoke someone in two different ways. The first would be to point out what is being done wrong and to harp on it until it is corrected. The second would be in the form of goal setting. Casting vision of where we want to go and working hard to get there. Either way we are told to provoke one another to love and to good works so that we would hold fast to our profession of faith.

   We have to understand that holding on to the faith and being strong in it is the goal. We are not in this for titles or self recognition or glorification but rather our purpose is to live our lives in such a way that it glorifies our savior and draws others to Him! With that in mind we have to be willing to accept the rebuke or strong words from our Pastor and the ministry that would point out our short comings. Though it may embarrass us and even hurt our feelings we have to understand that it is not to tare us down but rather it is to provoke us to love and to good works. At the same time we have to be willing to get out of our comfort zone and reach beyond where we are and where we have been.

   If we have been on this journey of faith for 5 years and we are in same Spiritual condition we were when it began we need to set some goals for ourselves to grow in God. The church sets goals every year we need to see what we can do collectively as the body to help the church meet its goals and through that we will grow Spiritually as well. Last but not least the writer said in v.25 that not only do we need each other but we need to be in church one with another. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is. The church is where we find strength and encouragement. We need every service as it helps us to keep the Spirit man strong as the physical is weak. Let us consider these things!